Colostomy apparatus



Feb. 16, 1954 BURTON 2,669,235

COLOSTOMY APPARATUS Filed Oct. 28 1950 INVEN'TOR.

. E4251. C. BURTON,

Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLOSTOMY APPARATUS Hazel 0. Burton, Gardena, Calif.

Application October 28, 1950, Serial No. 192,779 Claims (o1. 128-283) The present invention relates to apparatus for irrigation portions of the human anatomy, and is more particularly directed to apparatus for irrigating a person's colon through a, colonic opening resulting from the performance of a colostomy.

Prior colostomy devices for irrigating and cleaning the colon have caused excessive discomfiture to the user, especially when the device is worn under the clothing of an ambulatory patient. In addition to the lack of comfort, thev device extends outwardly from the wearers body to an excessive extent, forming pronounced and unsightly protuberances in the person's clothing, as well asinterfering with the facility with which the person can bend or otherwise move the body in a normal manner. In use, the prior devices tend to become excessively messy, and thereafter are difiicult to clean thoroughly.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a colostomy, or similar, irrigation'ap'paratus that can be used with less difiiculty and with a minimum of messiness.

Another object of the invention is to provide colostomy, or similar, apparatus that conforms generally to the wearer's body, is comparatively comfortable to wear, and does not form pronounced protuberances or bulges under the. wearers clothing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a colostomy, or similar, apparatus that makes a leak-proof fit with the persons abdomen adjacent the colostomy, the apparatus havinga channel into which the contents of the colon are discharged directly, thereby preventing the stream emanating from the colon from substantially soiling any other portions of the apparatus.

Still another object of the invention is to provide colostomy, or similar, apparatus that can 'be held comfortably in proper position against the wearers body.

A further object of the invention is to provide colostomy, or similar, apparatus capable of use with a minimum of messiness, and which can be cleaned easily.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide colostomy, or similar, apparatus which is transparent; so as to facilitate its use and to enable it to be washed with absolute assurance of itsbeing cleansed thoroughly.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a colostomy, or similar, apparatus having a bag or other type of container capable of being secured easily in leakproof fashion to thedischarge portion of the apparatus, and which is readily manipulated for the purpose of emptying its contents into a suitable receptacle.

. Another object of the invention is to provide colostomy, or similar, apparatus which tends to retard or prevent drainage from the colon when an irrigating operation is not being performed.

' Still another object of the invention is to provide a colostomy, or similar, apparatus capable of containing a suitable deodorant.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now bedescribed in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,

since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

'. Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a colostomy apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken along the line 2--2 on Fig. 1, illustrating the apparatus during the performance of an irrigating operation.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the apparatus worn by a person when irrigation is not being performed.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 1.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings is designed primarily for use by a person on whom a colostomy has been performed, for the purpose ofallowing irrigation of the colon, and resultant drainage from the colon in a clean and orderly manner.

The colostomy apparatus includes a shield l0 shaped to conform generally to the required portion of the persons body, at which the colostomy C or colon opening exists. As illustrated in the drawings, the apparatus is to be applied to a person's abdomen A from which the colostomy C may protrude slightly, particularly during the performance of an irrigating act. Inasmuch as the abdomen is of generally convex shape, the interior ll of the shield 10 is concave, and its exterior I2 is convex, the shield itself being generally ovate and of shallow dome shape; so that its rim portion l3 bears snugly against the abdomen around the entire periphery of the shield. If desired, a suitable peripherial sealing element l4 This drainage or passageis defined by the frontwall ii and by side walls i8, i8 integral with the front wall and merging into a rear wall It, the" lower portion of which is spaced from the concave-convex shield It, and the upper portion of which, below the inlet opening l5, may bepro vided by the shield It itself. The .frontl1 and side walls it extend upwardly and are integral flow into the colon, when the irrigating operation is taking place. The guide tube 3| itself projects inwardly from the front wall H to a substantial extent, so as to provide a proper bearing surface for the catheter tube.

When the tube T is not in place, the irrigating inlet 3! may be closed by a plug 32, having a shank portion 33 of substantially the same length as the guide 3 I, and having a head flange 34 en gaging the outer wall Ilaof the drainage" channel. The 'head'fiange 3 4 is relatively thin, to avoid substantial protuberances outwardly of the channel It. This is also true of the thickness of ,th'eydeodorant head 25 and its flange 26.

with a transverse top wall 2t located immediately above the inlet opening l5.

In order to avoid abrupt corners and projecting portions, a supplementary upper wall 2-! of arcuate form extends above the top wall 20, the lower ends of the supplementary wall preferably merging smoothly into the side walls 1 8-. The

tainer or chamber 2:2-with the shield Ill capable of holding a-suitable deodorant, D.- Thiscontainer may be closed by acap or closure element 23 shaped to conform to the chamber and having an inwardly directed skirt portion 24 fitting snugly within the chamber and an outer perforated' head 25 extending beyond the skirt to provide a rim or flange 26 bearing against the top and supplementary walls 2t; 2t.

For the purpose of: reinforcing the entire structure and to streamline the device, a centrally located band member 21' is provided, being inte'gralwith, or otherwise secured to, .the upper rim portion It of the shield to and the outer margin of the supplementary wall-2:1;

The band member "21 isco'n'vex and 'prevents any abrupt changes-in the' contour'of the-apparatus from the upper portion of the shield l-3"t'o the location of the deodorant chamber 22.

Moreover, it to be noted-that the front wall" PI of the channel'may 'a'lso bemadesomewhat convex, or, in general, parallel to the shield lo,

the band member 2T and outer wall Fl of the channel together forming a substantially continuous convex surface from the'upper to the lowerportions of the'dev'ice, which surface -Vapproximates the shape of the .persons abdomen; The inner surface It oftheshieldill fits the pers'ons abdomen A snugly; 'botliabove and' be low the colon outlet: To insure a leak-"M sealbetw'een the abdomen and-the shield-below the "inlet opening IS; the inner surface -30fo'i the shield immediately below the opening may be" made'comparatively -flat, bearing against and flattening the abdomen A-to a slightextent. In

this manner a leak-proof seal with the abdomen formed, which also causes the end of thec'olostomy C' to project slightly intothe-opening I 5, insuring discharge from thecolon directly into I the: drainage channeL-or passage !.6 (Eig m.

Projecting inwardly from the :front wa'llnlfl of the channel, and alignment 'with 'therupper portion of the opening I5, is a generally cylindrical inlet and guide '31-! for a-catheter tube-T,-

whichis insertable through the guide and into the colon C. The catheter tube has a passage P in-it through which a'suitable lirrigatingiliqui'd iromrasuitable tank receptacle-(not showrr) may top and supplementary walls 2-0, 2| form a conshield i0,. to insure substantial piloting of" the lower portion of the channel l6 into the bag. This bag is held in place by a strap 36 secured to its upper portion .and passing along .one side wall it .over' the supplementary wall 21 and down along. the 'other' side wall It. strap 36may have a suitable-releasable fastener element 3"! secured to it, sucha's a snap-fastener,

to allow it to be readily secured 'to' and easily released from the upper endof thebag 3'5. The

lower end oithe bag is closed'by folding 'the bag upon itself and threading it through-a buckle 3'8;

Unthreading of: the lower end of the bag from the buckle 38' and unfolding of the latter will open the lower end of thebag -and allow its contents to empty into a suitable receptacle.

It is 'toben'ote'd that the upper band-member 2? not only'ser'ves' to prevent abrupt" changes in the contour of th'e apparatua but italso prevents outward slipping oi the bag strap 3'6, insuring retentionof the bag inproper' location with respect to'the drainage channel Hi.

The outer portionof the shield ill on -opposite sides of the channel t6 may be' provided with pairs of lower and intermediateloopy-3 9,'40 forthe: reception of lowerand intermediate-belts B releasably secured to the loops a suitable fashion. The belts'B passaround the b'ody of the} wearer, holding the shield I0 snugly and comfortabl-y,aga'inst 'theperso'ns abdomen. In addition, an upper beltB maybe passed through" thespace between the upper band 2'! and shield l0, and then disposed around the body otthewearer. Because of the loop and belt-arrangemerit; the shield is may bepr'e'perily' and-com fortably supported a'gainst the per'sons abdomen, with the inlet and guide tube 3| substantially in" alignmentwith the colostomy opening, an'l with the lower portion 30 '01 the shield bearingagainst" the abdomen "A immediately above and below the colostomy to cause a slight projectionof thelatter into the channe'l inlet 'l 5-.-

'In 'the us'e of the device, it is "applied andheld against the persons body by' means ortneeeveral -belts'-B, B.

guide ='sleev e 13Ll=and into :the colon. The irrigatingzfluid then 1 flows through the' catheter tube One end. .of the The outer plug 32 is removed and the catheter tube T'inserted through the rectly into the drainage channel l6, with very little opportunity for soiling the inner surface of the shield l0. From the drainage channel the contents of the colon drop into the removable bag 35. The prompt replacement of the plug 32 into the sleeve 3|, after the catheter tube T is withdrawn, prevents any subsequent drainage from the colon from passing into the exterior of the apparatus.

Prior to commencement of the irrigating operation, the lower end of the bag may be opened by removing the buckle 38 and unfolding the bag itself, allowing the drainage entering the bag to drop .into a suitable. receptacle (not shown). Thereafter, the belts B, B are loosened and the device removed from the persons abdomen. The bag is then removable from the channel by releasing one end of the strap 35 and slipping it oil the channel through the space between the upper band 21 and shield Iii. .ihe bag 35, shield l and the drainage channel It may then be washed until completely clean.

The bag may again be replaced about the channel l6 and the strap 36 threaded around the several walls Iii, 2!, the strap then being resecured to the upper end of the bag. The lower end of the bag, of course, is again folded and passed through the buckle 38 to effect its closing. The outer plug 32 is inserted in place, and the inner inlet opening [5 closed'by a retarder cap or 010-.- sure element 40a that is shaped to conform to the inlet opening I5. This retarder cap has an inwardly directed skirt portion Ill that will be disposed within the channel, and a head 42 with an overlying rim or flange 43 bearing against the inner surface ll of the shield. The apparatus may again be mounted on the persons body, being held in position by the belts B, B. The abdomen A, as before, makes a close fit with the inner surface ll of the shield, the outer end of the colostomy C bearing against the retarder cap head 42 to effectively close the colon and prevent inadvertent drainage from it, which would otherwise soil the persons clothing.

The shield and associated drainage channel 16, and other parts, are preferably made of a transparent and light weight material, such as cellulose acetate, methyl methacrylate, or polystyrene, which enables the condition of the apparatus to be observed, both during the irrigating operation and during the cleaning operation. The bag is also preferably made of a transparent material, such as cellophane. vIn view of the transparency of the several parts of the device, the person can observe its condition and be ascured that the parts have been thoroughly cleaned.

' It is to be noted that the drainage channellG is relatively narrow, but of substantial Width. A large drainage channel area is provided, to insure emptying of the colon without difliculty, the front wall ll still being disposed relatively close to the rear wall l9 and shield 10, resulting in apparatus that projects ony slightly outwardly from the wearers abdomen, A. As a result, when the device is worn under a persons clothing, with the retarder cap 40a in place, such as illustrated in Fig. 3, there are no pronounced or noticeable protuberances or bulges in the persons clothing. Moreover, the lack of any substantial extension of the device from the persons body does not cause it to interfere with movements of the body. In this connection, it is to be noted the lower end of the channel It does not extend materially below the lower portion of the shield I0 or its rim seal I4. As a result, the person may bend over in a forward direction without the lower end of the channel being forced against the body. The bag 35 itself is preferably made of flexible and readily folda-ble material, such as cellophane, and does not exert any pressure against the persons body.

The inventor claims:

1. In colostomy apparatus: a generally domeshaped shield snugly engageable with the body and having an inlet opening into which the colostomy may effect a discharge; a drainage channel secured to said shield and communicatingxwith saidopening, said channel comprising a front wall disposed across said opening, and an upper wall above said opening, said front wall having an inlet for a catheter tube in alignment with said opening; a container separate from said channel and disposed around and depending from said channel; and means attached to said container and extending across said upper wall t hold said container in place.

2. In colostomy apparatus: a generally domeshaped shield snugly engageable with the body and having an inlet opening into which the colostomy ma effect a discharge; a drainage channel secured to said shield and communicating with said opening, said channel comprising a front wall disposed across said opening, an upper wall above said opening, and a rear wall spaced forwardly from said shield, said front wall having an inlet for a catheter tube in alignment with said opening; a container separate from said channel and into which the lower portion of said channel is piloted so that a portion of said container is disposed between said rear wall and shield; and means attached to said container and extending across said upper wall to hold said container in place.

3. In colostomy apparatus: a generally domeshaped shield having a rim portion snugly engageable with the body and having an inlet opening into which the colostomy may effect a discharge; a drainage channel secured to said shield and communicating with said opening, said channel comprising a convex front wall conforming generally to the curvature of said shield and spaced forwardly from said shield; side walls extending between said front wall and shield, and a top wall above said opening, the width of said channel between said side walls being considerably greater than the depth of said channel between said shield and said front wall; and a central external convex band secured to the upper portion of said channel and to said shield at its,

upper rim portion, said band being spaced from said shield between the upper portion of said channel and the upper rim portion of said shield.

4. In colostomy apparatus: a generallydomeshaped shield having a rim portion snugly engageable with the body and having an inlet opening into which the colostomy may effect a discharge; a drainage channel secured to said shield and communicating with said opening,- said channel comprising a convex front wall con-. forming generally to the curvature of said shield and spaced forwardly from said shield, side walls extending between said front wall and shield,.a.:

cyanogen ra band: secured to the upper portion. of; said eliannelland;to" said shieldat its upper rim portion; ai -container. into which the lower portion or said channel is: piloted so' that aaportionyof said oontainer is .disposedibetween saidlrear wall and saidlshiem; and a strap attached to. said container and extending across saidzt'op wall between said shield and band' to hold-.1 said':.-contai'ner in place;

*5:- In c'olostomy apparatus: agenerally dome shaped shield snugly engageable' with the body; having an inlet opening: into which. the colostomy may effi'ect a, discharge; a.- drainage channel secured to: said shield and communicate ing' with-"said opening; said channel com-prising a front wall disposed across saidaopening and a top-w ll above saidropening, said front wall having an inlet ion a .cathetertubeuini' alignment with said opening; a partition .abore -said top wall forming: achamber therewith and with said shield; removable means for closing said chamber; a container disposed around and dc.- p'ending fromsaid channel: .andimeans attached te 'said container' and disposed across saidpartis tion to hold said container implace.

6-. lincolostomy'apparatus-z a generally dome shaped s'hi-eld'having a. rim portion snugly iensgageable' with the body and. having an inlet openin into which .atcolostomy'mziy eiiect av dis charge, a drainage channel securedto said shield and communicating; with said opening, said comprising a convex front. wall COIL-.1 forming generally to the curvature of said shield and spaced forwardly from said shield, sidewalls extending between said f rontwall and shield, and atop wlall above said opening, the width: oisaid channelbetween: said side Walls being. considerably greater than the depth of said channel between said shield and :iron't wall; a partition: abov'ewsaid top wall forming a chamber therewith and. with saidshield; removable means for closingsaiduchamberta central ex ternal convex hand secured to said partition. and to said-shield at its upper rim portion; a; container disposed around and depending from said-channel; and a strap attached: to. said contamer andidisposedacross said partitionbetween saidiband and: shield :to hold said veontainer in place.-

7 In a colostomyapparatust a gen'erally domeshaped-shield snugly engageable with the r-body and ai ing" an inletinto" which said colostomy may eifect a discharge; a. drainage channel secured to said: shield and communicating-with said-opening;:saidchannel comprising a convex front walllconforming generally .to the curvas ture of said shield and spaced forwardly. from.

said shield, side walls extendingrbetween said iront walt and" shield, at top wall. above. said opening; andva' rear wall spaced iforwardly :irom.

saidshield, said. front wall having wan inlet for a; cathetentub-ein alignment with saidiopening', the width .oi said channel between ,said' side. wallsizbeing:consi-derably greater than the depth of: said. channel between said .rear and front walls; a-partitionzabove said-top Wall forminga' chamber therewith andwith said shield; :-a icon.- tamer'fmto-which itlrezlower portion ntisaid 1.01 3211! nel ispiloted soz thata port-iorrhof saimcontaiiner: is:- disposed between said-areas: wait andyshieldf and means attached to .saidncontainer. and: diss posed. across said partition to hold said; container inpiacet '8 In colostomy apparatus: is general-madame, shapedrshield snugly xengageablez with-...the::bodv, and having, an. inlet: cpening intm which: the

colostomy may effect a discharge; a. drainage" channel :secured toa said shield andcommunicating; with saidwopjening, saidv channel comprising; arfrontnwall' .disposedeacross said:.o.pening; andan. upper: wall above said opening;.saidutront-wall having. an. inlet .ior'a. catheterrtube in alignment;

with: said: opening; a container separate from said channei and..disposed. around and: dependsing immasaidzchannel; and a band member: ate tached to saidcontainer; and extending across said upper wall to hold saidcontainer in..-place..

9. In colostomyapparatus: a generally. domeshancd shield snugly engageable witlratheibody and having an inlet opening. into; which the: colostomy may efifect a: discharge; a drainage channel secured to said .shield andc01'1'1rn1 .1nicat:- ing with .saidopeni-ng; said channel comprising a front wall disposed across saidop'ening; and an upper wall above said. opening; saidfrontwall. having, an inlet for a catheter tube/in alignment: with said opening; a container separate from. said channeland disposed. around anditdepending'frornsaid channel; means attached-rte saidcontainer and extending. across-said upper" wall to hold said co:otainer; in: place; ancLnpper, interme'd'iate and lower belt. attaching means-se cured to said shield.

19.- In colostomy apparatus 1 .a generally domeshaped shield having. a rim. portion snugly engageable with the. body. and having. anv inlet opening intowwhich theco'lostomy-may efiect a discharge; the inner surface of said shield; atria-- cent and. below said -.opening. being shaped to snugly engage and .seal' against the. body: bBIOW the colostomy; a. drainage: channel secured to" said shield and communicating. with said open ing; said channel having inlet fora. catheter tube: in alignment with said opening; andupper; intermediate-and IOWGIT-bfilt attaching means: secured to said shield.

HAZEL C. BURTON.

References Cited. in the. file of .this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Article from Surgery,- Gynecology and Ob.-

- stetrics," *vol. 78 of "1944.

iCarcinomaoi the Rectum! 'byF; Ac -Geller and K-xfiansom, pa e 311, .Fieure :5. 

